Beef Management Series Set for ISU McNay Research Farm

CHARITON, Iowa -- A four-part beef management discussion series has been scheduled for Iowa State University’s McNay Research and Demonstration Farm southwest of Chariton. The session dates are June 18, July 16, Aug. 26 and Sept. 10.

“We’ll have Iowa State University faculty, staff and graduate students as presenters on a variety of informational topics, from fescue renovation to early weaning and calf management,” said Joe Sellers, beef program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Each session will feature a specific set of topics by faculty and staff, including farm staff.”

The first three sessions begin at 6 p.m. and include refreshments. The final session, the fall field day at McNay, starts at 4:30 p.m. and includes dinner at the farm prepared by the Lucas County Cattlemen’s Association.

The June 18 session focuses on supplementation strategies for beef cows and heifers on pasture, mineral recommendations and fescue renovation, presented by Sellers and Iowa State cow-calf specialist Patrick Gunn.

On July 16, attendees will learn about stockpiling grass for fall and winter grazing, management techniques to enhance plant diversity and wildlife, and hear an update on a climate change grazing project. Session presenters will be Sellers; Jim Russell, Iowa State grazing specialist; and Justin Bisinger and Laura Daniels, Iowa State graduate students.

The August program features Kevin Maher and Brad Evans, McNay farm beef herd production specialists; retired McNay farm beef cattle manager Dennis Maxwelll; Mark Carlton, extension field agronomist; and Sellers on topics including cover crops, early weaning and calf management, and planning to stretch cornstalk grazing and winter feed supplies.

At the Sept. 10 McNay Farm field day, Sellers, Gunn and Carlton will be joined by Iowa State beef specialist and Iowa Beef Center director Dan Loy and Steve Barnhart, extension forages specialist. A variety of plots, project demonstrations and updates will be available.

There’s no fee to attend any of the sessions and no preregistration is necessary. Sponsors are Iowa Beef Center, ISU Extension and Outreach and the ISU McNay Research and Demonstration Farm. A program flyer is available on the IBC website, www.iowabeefcenter.org.

For more information on the series, contact Sellers by phone at 641-203-1270 or by email to sellers@iastate.edu